Genetic Engineering

• Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)


  Organisms that have had their characteristics changed through DNA modification
• How genetic modification happens

  Farming insulin from bacterial plasmids
• Why bacteria


  • Easy to cut and paste genes in bacterial plasmids
  • They can reproduce quickly
  • They reproduce asexually
• Gene therapy


  Treatment that seeks to modify the expression of a gene or to alter the biological properties of living cells for therapeutic use
• Somatic gene therapy


  • Transfer of gene to any cell in the body except reproductive cells
  • New traits can't be passed on to offspring
• Germline gene therapy


  • Transfer of gene to cells that produce eggs or sperm
  • New traits can be passed on to offspring
• Gene augmentation therapy


  1. Problem: A gene for an important protein is absent or non-functional

  2. Solution: Insert a functional gene
• Gene inhibition therapy


  1. Problem: A defective gene causes disease-related cells to multiply

  2. Solution: Insert a blocking gene
• Killing specific cells


  1. Problem: Presence of a diseased cell

  2. Solution: Insert a suicide gene

  3. Insert a marker gene
• Problems with GMOs


  • High costs
  • Possibility of passing foreign genes to wildlife
  • Possibility of the uncontrollable spread of GMOs
  • Potential health risks
• Problems with gene therapy

  • High cost
  • Possible rejections due to immune response
  • Possible disruption of other genes
  • Moral and ethical issues